Arshaluys Mghdesyan, Regnum News Agency
Amoulsar gold mine is located dozen kilometers away from Armenian Jermuk resort town where British Lydian International has been conducting geological prospecting through “Geoteam” subsidiary for the second year.
According to the preliminary data, Amoulsar mine contains about 2.5 million ounces (more than 75 tons) of ‘fatal metal.’ This is not a limit, as the mine can get wider and wider. Environmentalists assure that besides pure gold, so-called “Amoulsar Project” can cause colossal damage to the region in terms of environmental pollution and ecosystem disturbance, as well as to Jermuk Territory and Lake Sevan. For this reason Jermuk Mayor Vardan Hovhannisyan also has serious concerns, besides environmentalists, which he shared in his interview with Regnum News Agency.
"Town authorities are at the stage of negotiations with company representatives which is carrying out prospecting drilling in Amoulsar mine,” outlined Hovhannisyan and added that the main problem is currently guaranteeing security of the project for Jermuk ecology. He noted that there are certain worries in regard with uranium presence in the mine which can “get free” in the course of mine development.
"It’s known that gold deposits are always accompanied with uranium compounds. The name itself, Amoulsar (Barren Mountainous) witnesses this fact. I was informed this territory is not suitable for pastures, as the cattle doesn’t graze grass there. That is the mountain may contain uranium reserves and other hazardous elements,” he pointed out.
"Amoulsar Project" Jeopardizing Lake Sevan?
Jermuk Mayor added that the combine and its tailing dump are planned to be located next to Spandaryan Reservoir. Water from Spandaryan Reservoir flows into Arpa River, then into Kechout Reservoir, from where it flows through “Arpa-Sevan” tunnel and gets into Lake Sevan.
November 25, 2011 at 14:37